Chapter 2

The moment Bette arrived in her room she was on the phone to the hotel concierge. Her name was Melissa and she was the person Bette entrusted with her dinner plans. "Melissa, hello this is Bette Porter.  I believed it was you I talked with when setting up my dinner for tonight.  I’m calling in to check on dinner. Are we all set?"

 "Welcome back Bette. Yes we are all ready to go. Tonight our chief has prepared for you and your guest something unusual yet in keeping with your desire for light fare.  We pride ourselves on taking advantage of local farmers to bring to you the freshest of pallets.  Tonight we plan on starting with crisp Squash Blossoms served with white anchovies, mozzarella over a bed of grits and pancetta, from there a selection of Compressed Watermelon accompanied with mission figs, pickled red onions, feta cheese and crisp red wattle ham.  From there we will move onto the entrée this evening and here we plan on plating two different plates, one of seared dry scallops accompanied with sweet corn, oyster mushrooms, quail egg, and house cured ham.  The second plate is my person favorite which consists of salt baked shrimp atop cavatelli pasta, clam broth, baby fennel atop curly spinach and bottarga.”

"Wow sound perfect.  When were you planning on sending things up?"

"Give me a call when your guest arrives, we should be able to bring up our spread all at once so you can enjoy your privacy.  It shouldn’t take more than an hour after your call.  Is there anything else I can do for you at this time?" 

"Yes. I was thinking about a bottle of Prosecco on ice.  Maybe you could bring it up now so it’s good and chilled.  Also would you happen to have candles that I could light for the dinner table?"

"Never fear. I will take care of the candles when we roll up your dinner table. And yes I can have that bottle sent right up with glasses."

"Perfect. Thanks Melissa for all your help."

“No thanks necessary Ms Porter.  It’s always my pleasure to make special happening for our guest.  I hope you can relax and enjoy your evening.”

With that Bette hangs up the phone.  Willing herself to relax, Bette has the same thought pass through her mind that has made its appearance more than once over the last few weeks.  Is it too late has she waited too long before she’s come to her senses.  Shaking her head to push the thought aside, Bette makes her way to the shower to freshen up and change before Tina arrives.  She only has 20 minutes until Tina is due.